Braiding-machine



X. PFRUNDER.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE s. 1921.

1g398,444.- .Pante Nov. 29, 1921 2 SHEETS- SHEET I.

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X. PFRUNDER.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE '3. 1921.

l ,398 ,444. Patented NOV. 29, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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XAVER .PFRUNDER, OF WOHLEN, SWITZERLAND.

BRAIDING-MACHINE.

insegni.

Application led .Tune 3,

T 0 al?? whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1,XAvnR PriiUNonn, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at lVohlen, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements `n Braiding-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such as vill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in braiding machines.

Braiding machines without guide plates are known in which the spool carrier 'is transferred from one driver to the adjacent driver through the agency of locking means adapted to move in a substantially vertical direction.'

The locking means of such constructions are slidably arranged on a guide rod and are provided with a toothed part adapted to cooperate with a suitably shaped recess of the arborof the spool carrier. Many disadvantages are, however, inherent to the above mentioned devices and the safe working is endangered in many ways, for instance: The sliding friction on the guide rod' causes a considerable resistance to the movement of the locking means which resistanste may further be increased, by oil and dust being deposited on the sliding faces and becoming resinous, to an extent that prevents an operation of the device. rhe point in which the pressure, caused by the locking .means of one driver coperating with the locking means of the next driver for the purpose of displacing the `latter means, acts, is situated off the center line of the guide rod; therefore a comparatively `great length of thesleeve gliding on the guide rod is required to prevent the edging of said sleeve and a great height of the lower part of the spool carrier results thereby.

The object-ofthe present invention is to provide a device kfor effecting the transfer of the spool-carriers from one driver to another which overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages. 1

According to the invention each locking or switching means in the shape of a latch is so arranged at the lower part ofthe driver that its one end coacting with the Specification of Letters Patent. Pgtti'itd NOV 29 1921 1921. serial No. 474,803.

spool- 4carrier performs a tilting motion around the other end resting on the driver when being brought in and out of envagenient with the spool carrier. Further irtieans are provided for preventing a turning motion of the spool-carrier during the switching operation and means for securing the spool-carrier in its upright position and for preventing any tilting of the carrier which might be caused by the centrifugal force.

Twoconstructional examples of the device according to the invention are shown on the accompanying drawings, in which: i l Figurel is an elevation showing two adiacentv drivers and the lower part of a spoolcarrier in its position between the drivers;

Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. l, the right hand driver being shown in section along'line H-H of Fig. l; WFig. 3 is an. elevation corresponding to ii ig. l of a modified construction;

Fig. 4 is a pla-n view of Fig. 3,

Figs. 5 to 7 are details of the lower parts of the spool carriers illustrated in Figs. l and f2; and 3 and 4;

Figs. 8 and 9 show the latch separately.

-Fig l0 illustrates a general arrangement of a braiding machine provided with the improvements according to the invention.

Referring first to the constructional eX- arnple illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, l denotes the base plate of the braiding machine, on which base plate tubes 2, acting as shafts for the drivers 3 are rigidly fixed. Each driver 3 is provided with a gear wheel 4, the wheels of adjacent drivers intermesh and cause adjacent drivers to rotate in opposite directions. To one or more of said gear wheels 4t rotation is imparted from a driving shaft in a. known manner and the general arrangement of a braiding machine of this type is illustrated in Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings. The upper portion 5 of the gear wheel body is of a. substantially cone shape. Above the gear wheel 4 a cylindrical disk'6 is provided which, together with'an additional 'cylindrical disk 7 secures the spool carrier 8 in a vertical position. To this end the spool carrier 8 is provided with two cylindrical anges 9 and 10, be-

tweeny which the'disk 7 of the driver 3 pro- 'i jects. the thickness of the disk 7 is slightly Y are not provided with such recesses.

face of the disk 7. The latter is provided at its circumference with semicircular notches 1l with which the part of the arbor of the spool carrier between the two flanges is in.engagement7 whereby the spool carrier is causedftortake part in the rotary movement of the drivers. ln the construction illustrated four notches l1 are provided in every driver disk 7. The distance piece l2 situated between the disks 6 and 7 of the driver is provided with notches 13 to clear the lower flange 9 of the spool carrier.

The device for effecting the switching or the transfer of the spool carriers 8 from one driver to the acent driver comprises the locking members or latches la arranged below the disk 6 of a driver in a radialdirection to the latter. A latch is shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. Each latch consists of a flat bar of rectangular cross-section, each end of said bar being shaped to form a hook. The inner hook 15 is in engagement with an annular groove 1S provided at the upper end of the conical part 5 of the driver. The outer hook 17, the nose of which points upward, has V-shaped or ybeveled outer edges 1S and 19. l/iith each latch a spiral spring 2O co-acts, the lower end of which resting in acylindrical recess 2l provided in the conical part 5 of the driver and the upper end of the spiral springbeing recessed at 22 into the latch. The conical part 5 of the driver is further provided with lugs 23; between the two vertical sides of each pair of lugs a latch is inserted. The distance between said vertical faces is greater than the width of the latch so that the` latter can move freely in a vertical direction, but is guided laterallj7 by said faces. Each latch 14 is thus adapted to perform a tilting motion varound the inner hook l5 as fulcrum and is., in its empty position7 pressed against the lower face of the disk 6 of the driver 3 (in Fig. l the left hand latch of the left hand driver 3 is illustrated in this position). It is to be noted that the lower face of the disk 6 of the left hand driver 3 in Fig. l is'provided with key-way shaped recesses 24 into which the latches 14' are pressed in their empty position, whereas t-he disk of the adjacent drivers 3 this means the latches 14- of adjacent drivers are arranged at different'elevations so thatV the outermost edges of the V-shaped parts ofrtwo latches are prevented from striking against each other Vwhen the latches are brought into engagement` with eac-hother upon the rotation of the drivers. Y

The lower end 25 of the arbor of the spool-carrier 8 is provided with a yrecess or notch 26 of a dove-tailed cross-section. The lateral walls of said notch are curved in the direction of said walls.

Y A. The'parts of the cylindricalend'of the arbor that are parallel to the notch are beveled or rounded off at 2T. Insertion of the spool-carriers 8 into the drivers by hand at the beginning of the braiding operation or exchanging carriers during the operation is very much facilitated, inasmuch as the rounded olf edge 27 glides on the face 19 of the VJ-shaped edge of the latch 14 and causes a displacement of the latter against the action of the spring 2O when a spool-carrier ispushed sidewise upon the disk 7 of the driver. rloward the end of this sidewise movement of the spoolcarrier on being inserted into the driver the tooth of the displaced latch is forcechby the action of the spring 20, to enter into the notch 26 of the spool-carrier and to grip the latter. To provide for a reliable interlocking movement between the hook 17 of the latch and the notch 26 when the drivers are not exactly erect or when wear of the moving parts has taken place, play is arranged between the two (Fig. l). The latch is then somewhat inclined to the horizontal,

e. it is in the positionof the left hand latch of., the right hand driver lshown in Fig. l. The part 28 of the arbor ofthe spool-carrier 8 immediately below the .lower flange 9 has the shape of a fiat iron, the pointed part of which being arranged in the direction of the travel of the spool-carrier. rlhis flat iron shaped part 28 prevents a turning of the spool-carrier in the momentary position in which the switching from one driver to the other is carried out, when the latch of one driver has just been forced out of engagement with the notch and the latch of the Vnent driver rhas not entered the notch 26. The turning motion is prevented by the lateral edges of the part 28 coming in contact with the edges of the disks 6. On the lower .face of part 28 and near its pointed end a rod 29 is provided extending vertically downward for the purpose of preventing a spool-carrier from being drawn out ofV engagement with the drivers during the transferring movement7 z'. e. when the latches are both unlocked. The transfer of a spool-carrier is carried out in the following manner: Y

vWhen a spool-carrier locked to one of the drivers is carried. around to the adjacent driver. the latch of the first driven-which isV inclined `to the horizontal direction as described above, comes into contact kwith the empty latch of theY second driver, which latch occupies a horizonta'lposition. Thereby the Vtlf-sh aped edge of the empty latch enters into the angle formed by the rounded off portion 2'? and the beveled face 19V ofthe loaded latch, and the empty latch acts in the manner of a wedge and causes a displacementV of the other latch in a vertical 'direction whereby the loaded latch is lifted Y out ofengagement with theynotch 26, and

said notch.l ln l of the drawingsthe relative position 'of the latches is shown as they pass the plane goingfthroug'h the axes of the tivo drivers. rlhe latch on the right hand 'driver-is in its lockino' `osition and thelatch of the leit hand driver has just been displaced and-is below the iirst mentioned latch. f

The movement of the latches relative to the drivers during` the locking and the unlocking are substantially tilting movements around the inner end o'fsaid latches and the locking' and unlocking can be carried out irrespective of the direction in which the drivers rotate. The cylindrical recess 22 of the latch lll into which the spiral spring 2() inserted ends in a hole 30 of smaller diameter than the diameter of the recess (Figs. 8 and 9). Into this hole the 'shaft of a pin il is inserted when it is desired to bring a latch into its inoperative position, for instance3 `when the pattern of the braid has to be changed. The right hand latchr of the right hand driver in Fig. l is shown displaced by a pin 3l.

rlfhe ccnstructional example shown in Figs. 3 and l shows some modifications to the means for holding the spool-carriers in an upright position and to the latch. Thelatter differs from the latch illustrated in Figs. l, 2, 8 and 9 inasmuch as the inner tooth l5 is replaced by a pin 32. The pin is suitably tapered and curved to allow'or1 the tiltingY movement of the latch. For connecting the latch to the driver 3 holcs are pro, vided in the conical part 5 of the latter. into which the pins 32 are inserted. e

rlhe means for holding; the spool-carrier 8 in an upright position consist of the Yfollowing' parts:

Above the gear Wheels Al of the drivers` disks 34; are provided which contain the notches ll into which the arbor oi? the spoolcarrier isembedded in order to take part in the rotaryymovcment of the driver. fr. cylindrical disk 35 is arranged on each driver at some distance 'from the notched disk Sie;

the disks 35 oll adjacent drivers a re arranged at different elevations. The diameters ot said disks 35 are so chosen that disks of adjacent drivers overlap each other and project into slots 36, 37 provided in the enlarged portion 38 of the arbor of the spool-carrier. As thc disks 35 enter the portion 88 'trom opposits sides the latter is of van S-shaped vertical cross-section. The'extensive radial engagement ot the slots 36, 37 and the disks 35 insures a correct upright position of the spool-carrier 8 and prevents a tiltinooi the latter. The edges of the disks 35 arc rounded oil in order toi/enable an easy entering or' said disks into said slots.` rlhe extensionof said disks 35 in the radial direction beyond the axis of the arbor effectively prevents a turning motion of the spool-carrier. The

lample illustrated in Figs. l and v The above described improvements in braiding` machines according to the invention present` the following advantages:

The power` used for displacingi the latches to cause the locking and unlocking; move-- ments is extremely small, lubrication oit the moving parts is scarcely needed and a safe reliable Working` is obtained. The play provided between the tooth of the latch and the notch in the arbor of the spool-ca rier insures a reliable Working in case the drivers are not exactly mounted on the base plate and even after ka considera-ble wear of the members 'for electing the'transfer oi the spool-carriers has occurred; rThe locking action of the tooth of the latch engaging' with the dove-tailed notch is very eli'ective at any speed of the machine and irrespective of the direction of rotation of the drivers. rl`he construction requires little space and the height of the drivers is kept very small whereby vibrations and the ruptures of the thread re- Sultinnr therefrom are effectively prevented, and the stability of the braiding machine and the life of the parts of the machine is materially increased.

l claim:

l. ln a braiding machine. the combina tion with a plurality oi: spool-carriers each having a` recess, of drivers provided with notches for` the reception ot the spool-carriers, locking members each operatively connected at one end to a driver and at the other end adapted to engage in the recess of a carrier by performing' a tilting motion onthe end connected to the driver actingr as a fulcrum, the lockingmember of one driver coacting with the locking member o'l the adjacent driver irrcspective of the direction yof rotation of a driveryor pertormingr said tilting movement during the transfer of a carrier v'from' one driver to the adjacent driver, and means for preventing; a `turningr motion olf the carriers during the transfer of the latter :from one driver to another.

2. ln a braiding' machine, the combination with' a plurality of spool-carriers each vhavingr a recess, of drivers provided with radially disposed notches for the reception 'of the spool-carriers, spring actuated elongated locking members having hooked ends, the inner end of each member beingm operative connection With the recess 1n a driver, the

llO

outer end being adapted to engage With the recess of a carrier by performing a tilting motion on the inner end, the locking members of one driver co-acting with the locking members of the adjacent driver irrespective of the direction of rotationof a driver, for performing said tilting movement Vduring the transfer of a carrier from one driver to the adjacent driver, and means for preventing a turning motion of the carriersduring the transfer from one driver to another.

3. ln a braiding machine, the combina-` tion with a plurality of sgool-carriers` each having a recess in its lower end, of drivers provided with notches for the reception of the spool-carriers, radially disposed spring actuated elongated locking members provided ivith hooks at their inner ends, in operative connection with the recesses in the drivers, the outer ends being adapted to engage in the recesses of the carriers byl performing a tilting movement on said innerV ends., the locking member of one rdriver coacting with the locking member of the ad jacent driver irrespective of the direction of rotation of adriver, for performing said tilting movement during the transfer of a carrier from one driver to the adjacent driver, guide faces on said drivers for insuring the radial position of thelocking `members, and means for preventing a turning movement of the carriers during the transfer from one driver-to another.

t. ln a braiding machine, the combination With a plurality of spool-carrierseacli having a recess in the lower end of itsarbor, of a pluralityv of drivers provided With notches for Athe reception of the spool-carriers and with beveled portions, radially disposed spring actuated elongated locking members provided with hooks at their ends, the inner hooks of said members being in i operative connection with the recesses in during its transfer the drivers, the outer hooks being adapted to engageA in the recesses of the carriers by performing a tilting movement on the inner hooks, the locking member ofone driver co-acting with the locking member or the adjacent driver irrespective ofthe direction 5. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of spool-carriers each having a recess at thel lower end of its arbor, of a plurality of drivers each provided With notches for the reception of the'spool-car- Y hooks being adaptedy to engage With the recess of each carrier by performing a tilting movement on the inner hooks, the locking member of one driver co-acting With the locking member of the adjacent driver irrespective of the direction of rotation of a driver for performing said tilting movement during the transfer of a carrier from one driver to the adjacent driver, guide faces arranged on the beveled part'of the drivers insuring the` radial position of the locking members, a cylindrical disk-provided on eachdriver above its beveled portion, a guide piece-provided on the lovver part of the -arbor of each carrier adapted to be guidedby the edges of the cylindrical disks of adjacentV drivers for preventing a turning movement fof the carrier during its transfer from one driver to another, and a removable member adapted for insertion between 'a cylindrical disk and any desired locking memberv for holding the latter in its inoperative position.

6. In a braiding machine, the combination with a plurality of spool-carriers leach provided With a recess, of drivers provided vwith notches for the reception of the spoolcarriers, radially disposed spring actuated locking members having hooked ends, the inner hooks being in operative connection With-recesses in the drivers, the outerV hooks being adapted to engage with the recess of each carrier byperforming a tilting movement on theinner hook, the'locking member of one driver co-acting With the locking member ofthe adjacent driver irrespective of the direction of rotation of a driver for performing said tilting movement during the transfer of aA carrier from one driver to the Vadjacent driver, each carrier having an enlarged portion on its arbor provided with horizontall slots arranged one Vabove the other and opening toward oppositesides of the axis of the carrier and extending beyond said axis, and aV disk provided on each driver at such elevation that the disk of one driver enters into one of said slots and the disk of the adjacent driver enters the other of said slots.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 

